Positive Black Images

Positive African American Images
The black race is struggling to find it’s purpose in society. The African American people have nothing to follow. Negative images flood the television stations and airways. Black athletes with no regard for their influence over the youth of America are continually in trouble with the law. Rap stars telling stories of days gone by, embellishing the life of standing on street corners selling drugs, running from the police, and “putting in work”. The same rap stars living in multi-million dollar homes far away from the street life they once knew. Driving cars worth more than five average families will make in a year. These are the people that are going to help the African American community grow help them reach new heights? Although the efforts of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Linda Brown made great strides, the lack of next generation leaders have caused the African American race to struggle in finding a place in American society. Because of the lack of parental support in the homes of some African American families, the promotion of negative people and images and the lack of positive role models in the media and local African American communities.
As an African American before and during the civil rights movement, it was easy to find positive role models. There were plenty of movements meant to improve the quality of life for African Americans. The Supreme Court case of Brown Vs the Board of Education ruled the segregation of public schools was illegal. The courage of Oliver Brown and the others involved in this case helped propel the forward motion of the African American people. These types of positive images helped continue the growth of African American people around the world. Today there are no such positive African American images in the media; instead, the images are of overpaid athletes pleading guilty running illegal dog fighting operations. After apologizing to his fans and teammates for not only lying but also committing the crime, tested positive for marijuana. This type of behavior sets the African American race back; because it overshadows any positive that has happened within the community. This recent situation and many more like it is the reason that the African American people need more positive role models. Some will say that the African American people have come as far as any one race could come. That their place in society has improved dramatically over the past 100 years. African Americans are no longer outwardly discriminated against, no longer shackled and whipped, no longer hung from the noose of injustice. It is the African Americans as a race that is promoting these negative images. By idolizing individuals that are convicted criminals and making excuses for inappropriate behavior and bad decisions. By accepting this kind of conduct, the forward progression made by generations before comes to a complete stop.
I would contend these statements, because the lack of positive African American imagery gives generation X nothing to hold on to, nothing to fight for. If the mass media flow of information were flooded with Malcolm X’s and Martin Luther King’s pushing for better education for the inner city children, asking for the halt of violence in the music or demanding that people take responsibility for their action and to stop blaming the “system” or “the man”. This will continue the forward progress of the African American race. Instead, images of “thugs”, “pimps”, and “ballers” bombard the radio and television stations. Artists claim “freedom of speech” when creating songs that glorify glorifying the killing of other African Americans. This only hurts the race; this tarnishes the image of those that lost their lives in the effort to gain equality. There are doctors, lawyers, firefighters, police officers, community programs that are doing positive things in their communities. Reports on these types of people and the positive things they are doing would greatly improve the future of the African American people
The lack of positive African American leaders and positive role models is greatly affecting the African American people. The available images send the wrong message to the communities. The images tell stories of violence, poorly educated people and mistrust in not only the law but of themselves. The effects of these images are felt every day as young African American men are dying in the streets, and young African American mothers are left to care for fatherless children. The affects are felt when the number of incarcerated African Americans has nearly reach 1 million.